First Commercial Sea Shipment of Unique Indian Pomegranates Arrives in the US: Government
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Synopsis
A historic milestone for India's fruit exports, the first commercial sea shipment of the prized Indian Bhagwa pomegranates has successfully arrived in the US, garnering acclaim for its quality and presentation.
Key Takeaways
- First commercial sea shipment of Indian pomegranates to the US.
- Shipment consisted of 4,620 boxes weighing 14 tonnes.
- Quality of pomegranates described as excellent.
- Government initiatives support fruit exports.
- Potential for Indian pomegranates in the US market.
New Delhi, April 19 (NationPress) The government announced on Saturday that a historic commercial sea shipment of the coveted Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranate has successfully reached the US, representing a significant achievement for the nation’s fresh fruit exports.
The first shipment, consisting of 4,620 boxes of Indian pomegranates totaling around 14 tonnes, landed in New York during the second week of March — within five weeks of leaving Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
Upon arrival, the shipment was received with tremendous enthusiasm in the US state. The quality was described as “excellent”, and customers were impressed by the stunning appearance and superior taste of the Indian Bhagwa pomegranates.
This shipment signifies the potential for Indian pomegranates to become a favored option within the competitive US market, as stated by the Ministry of Commerce.
“The government has been proactive in promoting Indian fresh fruits on the global stage. APEDA has been instrumental in facilitating the export of fruits like mangoes and pomegranates to the USA through funding for the pre-clearance program,” stated APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev.
Indian farmers are expected to gain better returns as their fruit enters premium international markets such as the USA. Indian mango exports have already reached approximately 3,500 tonnes annually, and we anticipate pomegranates will achieve similar figures in the future,” he added.
In the financial year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tonnes of pomegranates valued at $69.08 million.
This year has seen a notable increase in pomegranate exports from India, with a growth rate of 21 percent and a value of $59.76 million from April to January 2024-2025.
Major export destinations include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman, and the US.
Due to the success of a static trial that extended the shelf life of pomegranates up to 60 days through collaboration between APEDA and the ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate, India launched its inaugural trial commercial sea shipment of 4,200 boxes (12.6 tonnes) to the US in partnership with InI Farms from the Irradiation Facility Center (IFC), Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), Vashi, Navi Mumbai in February 2024.
APEDA enabled the USDA pre-clearance program for pomegranates in December 2024, which was crucial in simplifying logistical and regulatory barriers for Indian agricultural exporters, allowing them to penetrate the US market.
Following the grant of market access for Indian pomegranates by the US, during the 2023 season, APEDA, alongside the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO - India), and the National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur (NRCP), successfully executed a trial shipment of pomegranates to the US via air.
